Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1887-03-31
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TWO essseuger Trains ooiside Naa'
North East.

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North East.
special Correspondence Of Gazette and journal.
MORN EAST, Nd, March 24.--rbs first
serious coliiaion on the new Baltimore ~
Philadelphia railroad occurred Of i,30
o'clock this morning when two trains
carrying express goods collided Of the
Mechanics Valley aud North East road
bridge about one mile east of Lesli, sta
tion and two miles from this place.
The west bound train had two car loads
Of emigrants attached. II was In charge
of Conductor Lee and the east-bound of
Conductor Miller.
The east bound train was m wing
rapidly, while the other was going more
slowly. The engineer and firemon of
both trains jumped.
James Craghan, of western West Vir.
ginia, who was an extra fireman Oh the
eastbound train. and had not been long
in the employ of the road, had his skull
fractured and In in a dangerous condition.
Engineer George Robinstt OF Balti more,
ON the east bound tain. WIS bruised on
the head and ankle, while his fireman,
George Armstrong, was hurt on the arm
and chest.
The passengers were not injured. The
two engines were so telesooped that three
engines lad failed to pull them apart at
noon. Four express cars were thrown off
the track and express goods scattered
around
A wreck-train arrived promptly from
Wilmington. Doctors Palmer of Will
minRton and Housekeeper Of North East
attended to tue wounded, who we're taken
to Leslie.
The track is still blocked preventing
travel. The cause of the accident is not
known but it is intimated that it was due
to mistake on the part of the engineer
of--the east bound train as to the place OF
meeting.
The schedule place for the trains to
meet is at Singerly, but owing to the east
bound train being lnte il is probable that
point farther west, probably Lcalie, was
named.
The track at the soene of the accident
| is but single track and the company in.
tended to complete the second track be.
tween this city and Baltimore this week
and for that purpose 200 negroes had
been procured from Virginia. The news
of accident spread rapidly in this city
| and various rumors of horrible accident
were accepted as true.
The Baltimore american of Saturday,
gives the following concerning the cause
| of the B. Il P. disaster at Leslie's station
| last week SIT came from several sources
| yesterday that the accident which oc'
CURED on the new branch of the B. u o.
railroad was caused by wrong order
| given to the engineer of the east bound
| train. These two trains formerly met al
| Jmgerly's, but the order which Robiuette
received called for him to meet the west
,ound express at Leslit's station, about
| IS miles this side of Wilmington. The
rain bound for Baltimore not receiving
.pecial orders, continued on after passing
Leslie's, expecting to meet the express al
5ingerly's. When they were some dis
tance out, Engineer Fitzpatrick of the
immigrant train, noticed the express, and
after reversing the engine, they all
| Jumped, sustaining some slight injuries
Armstrong and Crogan, fremen on the
east bound train, did not Jump, and knew
nothing OF the approaching train unit
thrown off the engine down an enibank
meut of several feet. Both George Rob
inette and George Armstrong are residents
of Highlandtown, living ut No. 1915 Firs
street. John Orogan, the extra fireman
on the express, has been on the road fol
only four days, and came from Weston
W. Va. He was learning the grades o
the road, and intended to take position
as engineer He is seriously injured
about the skull, and is now at the Mary
land University Hospital.